Cape fur seal bites woman at Strand Beach

A woman is recovering after being bitten by a seemingly rabid Cape fur seal at a beach in Strand, Western Cape.

The incident reportedly took place early this morning, Thursday 12 November 2026, at Strand Beach.

SEAL BITES BODYBOARDER

According to the District Mail & Helderberg Gazette, the woman – a member of a local bodyboarding group – was in the water when the adult seal attacked her.

The seal proceeded to bite the woman on the back of her legs, prompting her to seek immediate medical attention from a local hospital.

Eyewitness Jako de Wet said that the seal appeared aggressive as it tried to approach him and his family next, though he managed to chase it away. The seal also turned its attention to other swimmers; fortunately, no additional injuries were reported. It then moved onto the shore, where it settled on the sand.

LATEST UPDATES

Lisa Starr, founder of the Helderberg Ocean Awareness Movement, posted a Facebook update on this morning’s situation. She explained that the bodyboarder, identified as Charmaine, had received a preventative rabies injection.

“She will continue with four more doses over the next two weeks,” wrote Starr.

As for the seal, Starr’s observations suggest that it was indeed suffering from rabies. She explained, “His body was rippling from the back to the front like he wanted to regurgitate. Then, he sat up and was honking and grunting; I felt he was in pain.”

The City of Cape Town’s Coastal Management department arrived to assess the situation, after which they administered euthanasia to the animal.

Rabid Cape fur seals are often identified by their unusually aggressive behaviour. This is seen when they attack or bite objects, charge at people or dogs, or try to climb aboard watercraft.

RABID SEALS: TAKE PRECAUTIONS

Earlier this year, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) issued a safety warning amid concerns over potential rabies infections among Cape fur seals.

Notably, rabid seals are often identified by their unusually aggressive behaviour. This includes attacking or biting objects, charging at people or dogs, or trying to climb aboard watercraft.

If you or someone you know should ever cross paths with a rabid seal, keep in mind the following tips:

• Remain as calm as possible to prevent the situation from escalating further.
• If you are in the water, exit the water in a calm, quick manner.
• Keep boards or boats between yourself and the seal.
• Warn others to keep their distance from the seal.
• Keep your pets away from the seal.
• In the event of a seal bite, wash the wounded area thoroughly with soap and running water for 15 minutes. Then, immediately seek medical attention.

You are strongly encouraged to report sightings of rabid seals to the NSRI. You can contacted their emergency number on 087 094 9774. Alternatively, you can call the City of Cape Town’s emergency call centre on 021 480 7700, who will notify Coastal Management and the marine response teams.